Discriminating signaling apparatus



May 29, 1928. 1,671,778

J. E. OSTLINE DISCRIMI NATING S IGNALING APPARATUS Ori inal Filed Dec. 1923 ITLUETL or John E. UETYmE Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN E OSTLINE, or LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INC., WARE.

or cnIc eo, rumors, A CORPORATION or DELA- nrscRIMIN'ArINe SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 3, 1923, Serial No. 678,111. Renewed August 3, 1927.

This invention relates in general to discriminating signaling apparatus for automatic telephone systems, inwhich local subscribers call the special service operators for the purpose of initiating long distance, toll, or suburbancalls, and is a further development of the invention shown in my prior application, Patent No. 1,612,045, filed May 14, 1923. More specifically, the broad general object of the present invention is to rovide a tandem repeater for use in multi-o ce systems where the special service operatorsare called over tandem trunks. r i lVhen repeaters of theimproved type disclosed herein are used, the, associated trunks may be used for ordinary subscriber to subscriber service between oflices, and may be used also for completing calls to the toll recording operator or to any other operator who may havereason to ascertain the class to which the callin substation belongs.

Specifically, any iind of calls,regardless of their nature, may be trunked over a common group oftrunks to a distant tandem office at which they are split up by aselector, and are completed over the proper routes according totheir destination, the improved tandem repeaters operating as an ordinary repeater, except when thecall is extended to an operator'who must be informedqof the class to which the calling substation belongs, in which case means becomes eifective to relay the characteristictest indication past the inductive connections in the repeater.

To accomplish the foregoing and othei useful ends this invention comprisesmeans which will be fully described in the specification which is to follow, reference being had to the accompanylng drawing, which shows diagrammatically the apparatus and circuits involved in a complete, connection between a calling subscriber at substation A and a trunk line extendin service operators position by Wayof line switch C, selector E, tandem repeater TR, selector F, and the outgoing special service repeater i h The substations A and A are connected in bridge of a single pair of talking conductors and may beof any approved induction coil automatic type. As represented herein,,substation A comprises essentially the, receiver 1, switchhook 2, calling device 3, transmitter and rotary 3y are arrange in horizontal rows or levels. 1 The selector E has access on one level to a to a special 5, inductionicoil 6, restricted serviceattachlnent S, condenser 9, and bell 10.

The restricted serviceattachment Scomprises essentially the following: Spring 14,

to which is fastened the iron member 8, and

which has a contact point in its end; spring 7 which has a contact point in its end, and supporting member or bracket 11 which may be mounted on the terminal block in the bell box, as in this case, or other convenient points so long as operation of the attachment is not hindered. Springs 14 and 7 and supporting member 11 are assembled by means of various washers, insulators and screws 13.

The adjusting screw 12 is usedto secure the I proper tension in spring 14, thus permitting it to operate only under certain conditions.

The line conductors 21 and 22 of the substations A and A are connected at the central office to the individual line switch C,

which is mechanically of the rotarytype in which the wipers have no normal position and move in a. forward direction only.

Line switch C has access to a plurality of trunk lines extending to selector switches, one of which is shown in outline at E, which are mechanically of thewell known vertical pe in which the bank contacts group of outgoing trunks, one of which is the trunk associated with the tandem repeater TR. This trunkextendsto a, distant tandem ofiice and terminates there in the secondselector F. h

: The selector F, together with other selectors (not shown), has access on one level toa f group of special servicetrunks, one of which the trunk associated with the outgoing special service repeater R.

The trunk associated with the special service repeater R comprises conductors 211 and 212, and terminates at a toll recording operators position in the terminating equipmentM.

vThe tandem repeater, TR consists essentially of a.

coil RC, and an individual signal 1am together with suitable circuits for pert plurality of relays, a repeating ting the necessary functions, as willfbe pointedout hereinafter. Battery 13 is preferably common to a group of tandem repeaterssuch asTR. V v

key

The outgoing special service repeater R consists essentially of a plurality of relays, an individual signal lamp L, and an impedance coil 107, together with suitable circuits for performing the necessary functions as will be pointed'out hereinafter. Battery B is preferably common to a group of outgoing special service repeaters such as R.

The terminating equipment M at the special service operators positionconsists essentially of the polarized relay 201, different colored signal lamps L and L and a K. An operators simple and well known head set circuit is also shown diagrammatically no.

A brief description'of the apparatus havin been given the operation of the same wi l now be explained more in detail. For

switching this purpose it will be assumed that the subscriber at substation A, which subscriber it will be further assumed is to be denied special (toll) service, desires to call a special service (recording) operator 0 in order to place along distance, toll, or suburban call, as the case may be. In order todo this, the subscriber at substation A removes his receiver and then dials the operators number.

\Vhen the receiver is removed at substationA, line relay 24 energizes over line conductors 21 and 22, but the primary winding ofthe induction'coil at the substation, in series with the line relay, being marginally adjusted, is not energized sufiiciently to attract armature 8. Upon energizing, line relay 24 places ground on'private normal conductor 40 at armature 29, thereby making the calling line busy, and closes a circuit for relay 23 and stepping magnet 25 in series. As a further result of the energization of line relay 24, it connects test wiper 32 to the junction of switching rela 23 and stepping magnet'25' at armature 3 In case the trunk upon which the wipers of the line switch are standing is idle,

switching relay 23 energizes immediately. Assuming the trunk to be busy, however, switching relay 23 is short circuited by ound encountered on the busy test contact y test'wiper 32 and does not energize, and the wipers are rotated step by step by the buzzer-like action of stepping magnet25,

which operates through test wiper 32. When an idle trunk is reached, which trunk it will be assumed is the one terminating in bank contacts 34, 35 and 36, switching relay 23, being no longer short circuited, eneggizes in series with stepping magnet 25. tepping magnet 25, however, does not energize at this time on account of the high, resistance of switching relay 23. Switching relay 23, upon .energizing, opens a point in the test circuit and prepares the holding circuit at armature 27, and at armatures 26 and 28 disconnects line conductors 21 and 22 from the winding of line relay 24 and ground, and

extends them by wa of wipers 31 and 33, bank contacts 34 an 36, and the associated line conductors to the windings of the line relay of selector E. The line and release relays (not shown) of the selector E now energize and prepare the switch for operation in the usual well known manner. A

\Vhen the calling subscriber A operates his calling devices in accordance with the first digit in the specialiservice (recording) operators number, the selector E raises its wipers 41, 42 and 43 opposite the corresponding level of bank contacts and then selects an idle trunk in the'usual and well known manner. It will be assumed that the trunk selected at this time is the one extending to tandem re erater TR, indicated as 51, 52

and 53. at being the case, line relays 62 and 63 of the tandem re eater TR energize over the calling line, the atter disconnecting armature 69 from ground, while the former closes a circuit at armature68 for release relay 64. Release relay 64, u on energizing, places ground on release trun conductor 52 at aramature 70, thereby closing the usual holding circuit for the preceding switches E and C.

As a further result of the energization of line relay 62, it completes a bridge across the associated outgoing trunk conductors at armature 67. This bridge includes the right hand repeating coil windings and the marginally adjusted relay 61. Responsive to the closure of this bridge 'the line and release gizes, it opens the bridge across the associated trunk conductors at armature 67, re sulting in a momentary deenergization of the line relay (not shown) of the selector I Accordingly, theselector F is operated to raise its'wipers to the desired level and to select an idle trunk. In this case, it will be assumed that the trunk extending to the'outgoing special service repeater R is the one selected. Accordingly, line relays 101 and 104 of the repeater R energize over the 100 which extends back and includes the hue bridge of the repeater TR. Relay 101, upon energizing, closes a circuit at armature 114 for relay 103 by way of armature 118 and its resting contact, and atarma- I ture 116 the short circuit of battery B.

Pending the deenergization of relay 103, battery B is connected in the line circuit in series with the exchange battery over the following path: From ground by way of relay 104, trunk line conductor 99, lower wiper ofthe selector F, lower right-hand winding of repeating coilRG, marginal relay 61 upper right-hand winding of the repeating coil RC, working contact of armature 67 and said armature, upper wiper of the selector F, trunk line conductor 97, armature 125 and itsrestingcontact, armature 111 and its working contact, si al-lamp L, battery B, working contact 0 armature 112 and said armature, armature'l26 and its resting ,contact,an"d relay 101 i to grounded battery. These batteries in seriesenergize relay 61 sufficiently to operate its armature, thereby "preparing a circuit at "armature 66 for 'shortingoutrelay 104, and closing at armature acircuit to include signallamp L and battery B before openingthecircuit includingthe exchange battery. Battery B energizes the induction coil 6 (substation A) sufiiciently to. operate armature 8 of the restricted service attachment, which armature, as before mentioned, istensioned against operating on the normaloperating current, Armature .8 places ground on the line circuit by way'ofthe working'contact of spring"? rand shorts out relay'63. Belay 63, upon deenergizing, connects armature 69 with ground and shorts out relay 104 of outgoing special service repeater R;

Relay 104, upon deenergizin'g, closes a circuit at armature 124for relay 106 as foL lows: Ground,workingcontact of armature 114 and said armature, armature 118 and its Working contact, armature 123 and its work ing contact (relay 103 being slow acting holds up s'ufiiciently long to compl'ctethis circuit), armature 124 and its resting contact, relay 106 to grounded battery. Relay 106, upon energizing, locks itself up at armature 130 byway of ground, Working contact of armature 119 and said armature, andreverses the direction of signaling current to be applied to the selected trunk line. at armatures 129 and 131. Relay 103, upon finally deenergizing, again closes at armament is used.

ture 121*tlielocal short circuit of battery B, andcloses acircuit at armature 123 for re? lay byway of gr0und, working contactofarmature 114 and said armature, and armature 118 and its working contact. Relay 105 accordingly energizes with results to be explained hereinafter. a The short circuitingof battery B, referred to above, allows armatures 65 and 66 of relay 61 to fall back, thus replacing battery B with the normal exchange battery at armature 65, and removing the ground con: nection from the trunk conductor 99 at ar-y mature 66, allowing line relay 104 of the repeater R to energize again. The replacing of battery B with the normal exchange battery allows armature 8 of i the restricted service attachment at the calling substation A to fall back, thus removing the ground or short from the line circuit and allowing line relay 63 of the repeater TR to reenergize. In the repeater R,-relay 105, upouenergizing as above pointed out, o ens at armatures 125and 126 bothsides 0 the test battery B circuit; and closes at armatures127 and l28 the signaling current circuit. as follows: ground, right--handwinding of impedance coil 107, working contact of armature l3l and saidiarmature, working contact of armature 128 :and said armature, trunk conductor 212, polarized relay 201,

trunk conductor 211, armature 127 ancl its workingcontact, armature 129 and its working contact, left-hand windingof impedance coil 107 to grounded battery. Polarized relay 201 energizes over this circuit and ac tuates its armature 203 in the proper direction to close acircuit for redlamlp L". by

Way of key K. Red lam L upon hting, notifies the operator of the call and that the substation is a restricted service (notoll) substation. i w

1 At an unrestricted substation. no attach- Conse uently, whensuch a substation makes a call no groundwwill be picked up at an armaturesuch as-S to short outline relay 63, and in turn to short/out line relay 104 and close acircuit for relay 106. Signaling current will therefore be applied over the following circuit: ground, right-hand winding ofimpedance coil 107, resting contact of armature 129 and said armature, working contact of armature 127 and said armature, trunk conductor 211, polarized relay 201, trunk conductor 212, armature 128 and its working: contact, armature 131 and its resting contact, left-hand winding of impedance coil 107 to groumled battery. Polarized relay 201,1upon' energizing, operates its armature 203 in the proper direction to close a circuit for white lamp L by way of key K. White lamp L upon lighting, notifies the operator of the call and that the calling substation is an unre stricted service substation.

Upon the operator receiving either the red or white signal, depending on the classof substation calling, she bridges her head set 0 across the trunk conductors 211and 212 by means of the key K, thus permitting conversation between her and the calling subscriber, and extinguishing the signal lamp. Upon learning the calling subseribers desirednumber orcall, she either makes a ticket on the call or denies the service as the case may require in the usual well known manner.

When the conversation is terminated the calling subscriber replaces his receiver, bringing about the disconnection of the apparatus in the usual manner. Briefly, upon the de cnergizat-ion of. the line relays 62 and (l of tandem repeater TR, relay 64 deenergizes and removes ground. from release trunk eonductor 52 at armature 70, whereupon se lector E and line switch C are released in the usual manner. Relay 62 also opens the bridge at armature 67, whereupon line relays 101 and 104 of outgoing special service repeater R deenergize. Release relay 102 deenergizes responsive to the retraction of armature 114 and breaks the circuit at urmature 119 for relay 106 and opens the circuit of relay 105 at armature 118. Relay 105 thereupon deenergizes and disconnects the signaling current from the trunk circuit. As a further result of the deenergization of release relay102, it removes ground from the associated release trunk conductor, at armature 115, whereupon the selector F is released. All the apparatus has now been restored to normal. I i

In order to enable the present invention to be understood without any undue complications, the tandem repeater TR has been shown as a simple repeater having no means for reversing the direction of current fiowin the associated trunk. It will be understood, however, that since the signal control through the repeater is accomplished by booster current and is independent of the direction of the current flow, the invention can readily be applied to repeaters of the reversing type w ere such repeaters are necessary.

Having described my invention, what I consider to be new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination, with restricted and unrestricted subscribers stations, said restricted stations having an attachment placed on the induction coil, of a tandem repeater, of an outgoing special service repeater, means whereby any subscriber can extend connection to said tandem repeater, means whereby said tandem repeater can extend the connection to said outgoing special service repeater and thence vto an operators position, means whereby said ougtoing special service repeater causes said tandem repeater to test for the presence of said attachment, and means whereby said attachmentjcauses said tandem; repeater to cause said outgoin special service repeater to reverse the direction of signaling current and-give the operator a characteristic. signal indicative of the class of station.

2. In a telephone system, party lines, a plurality of stations on said lines divided into classes in accordance with the kind of service to which they are entitled, a tandem repeater, an outgoing special service repeater, means for extending any line when callin to said tandem repeater and thence to sai outgoing special service repeater and an associated operators position, and automatic means for informing the operator. of the class to which the calling station belongs. 3. In a telephone system, a plurality of subscribers stations some of which have restricted service attachments, a tandem repeater, an outgoing special service repeater, means whereby any of said subscribers stations can extend a connection by way of said repeaters to an operators position, and automatic means controlled by said. attachments whereby said repeaters give the operator a characteristic signal without the knowled e of the calling subscriber when the calling station isa restricted service station. a i 4. In a telephone system subscribers lines divided into classes, a trunk extending to an operators switchboard, means including automatic switches for extending any calling line to said switchboard, devices at the substations of lines belonging .to a particular class, means associated with said trunk line for controlling said devices over established connections, signaling equipment in said trunk line controlled over established connections by said devices, inductive connec tions in such established connections, and means forrelaying the characteristic circuit conditions necessary to, accomplish the control of said devices and, equipment past said inductive connections. r

5. In a; telephone system, a restricted service line, a trunk line extending to an operators switchboard,.means including a plurality of automatic switches and a repeater for connecting said line and trunk line, means associated with said trunk line for establishing a test circuit over that portion of the connection which extends back to said repeater, means in said repeater controlled over said test. circuit for establishing a second test circuit including said first line, a. device at the station on said first line controlled over said second test circuit to alter the circuit condition in the line, means in the repeater responsive to said altered circuit condition, and signaling equipment conlot lot

Ill

V operators position,

Lemma system, party lines, a plurality of stations on said lines divided into classes in accordance with thekind of service to which thevare entitled, a tandem repeater, an outgoing special service repeater, means for extending any line when calling to said tandem repeater-and thence to said outgoing repeater and anassociated a booster batteryv associated with said outgoingrepeat'er, meansfor temporarily connecting said battery tol'the line at said outgoing repeater, and means responsive to said connection for causing said tandem repeater to test the classo'f station calling. s

7. In a telephone system, party lines, a plurality of stations on saidlinjes' divided into classes in accordance with the kindof service to which they are entitled, atandem repeater, an outgoing specialservice repeater, means for extendingany line whencall ing to said tandem repeaterandthence to said outgoing repeater and an 'a'ssogiated oper'ators position, a 'booster' battery associ ated with said outgoing repeater, means for temporarily connecting said batte'ryl to the line at said outgoing repeater, means responsive to said connection for causing said tandem repeater to test the class of station calling, and means fol-informing the operator of the call and the class t which the calling station belongs." i '1 8. In a telephone system,p'arty linespa plurality of stations on saidjline'sdivided into classes in accordance with the kind of service to which they are entitletha tandem repeater, an outgoing spedialservice repeater, means for extending anyline when calling to said tandem repeater and thence to said outgoing repeater and an associated operaters position,'a booster battery associated with said outgoing repeater, means for temporarily connecting said battery to the line at said outgoing repeater, a mar ginal relay in said tandem repeater, said relay operative responsive to the connection of said battery, and means responsive to the operation of said relay for testing the class of station calling.

9. In a telephone system, party lines, a plurality of stations on said lines divided into classes in accordance with the kind of service to which they are entitled, a tandem repeater, an outgoing special service repeater, means for extending any line when calling to said tandem repeater and thence to said outgoing repeater and an associated operators position, abooster battery associated with said outgoing repeater, means for temporarily connecting said battery to the line at said outgoing repeater, a marginal the "line at relay in said tandem repeater, saidrelay operative responsive to the connection of said battery, means responsive'to the operation of said relay for testing theclassof station calling, and means for informing the operator of the call and the class towhich the calling station belongs. t

10. In a telephone system, party lines, a plurality of stations on said lines divided nto classes in accordance with the kind of service to which they areentitled, a tandem repeater, an outgoing special service repea ter,means for extending any line when calling to said tandem repeater-and thence to said outgoing reperater and an associated operators position, a booster battery as sociated with said outgoing repeater, means for temporarily connecting said battery 'to the line at said'outgoin repeater, a marsa'id tandem repeater, "said ginal relay in relay operative responsive to the connection.

of saidbattery, 'ajbooster battery associated with said tandem repeater, and means controlledby said relay "for connectingsaid second battery for testing the class of station calling.

11.111 a telephone system; party lines, a

plurality of stations on said lines divided into classesin accordance withthe kind of service to which they are entitledya tandem repeater, an outgoing special service repeater, ineansforextending anyline when calling to said tandem repeater and thence to said outgoing repeater and an associated operators position, a booster battery associated with said outgoing repeater,gmeans for temporarily connecting said battery to inal rela in said tandem reieater said relay operative responsive to l the connection of said battery, a booster battery associated withsaid tandemrepeater, means controlled relayfor connecting said'second battery 'for testing the class of station calling, and means for informing the operator of the call and theclass to whichthe calling station belongs.

12. In a telephone system, a plurality of subscribers stations some of which have restricted service attachments, a tandem repeater having a line relay, an outgoing special service repeater having a line relay, means for extending any line when callin to said tandem repeater and thence to said outgoing repeater and an associated operators position, means whereby said outgoing repeater causes said tandem repeater to test for the presence of one of said attachments, means whereby the attachment, if present at the calling station, shunts out said tandem repeater relay which in turn shunts out said outgoing repeater relay, and means responsaid" outgoing repeater, a inarsignaling current and iving the operator a characteristic signal inIiicatwe of the class of station. 7

13. In a telephone system, a plurality of subscribers stations some of which have restricted service attachments, a tandem repeater having a line relay, an outgoing spe cial service repeater having a line relay, means for extending any line when callin to said tandem repeater and thence to said outgoing repeater and an associated operators position, means whereby said outgoing repeater causes said tandem repeater to test for the presence of one of said attachments, means whereby said tandem repeater relay is shunted out or not depending upon the presence or obsence of said attachment, means whereb said outgoing repeater relay is shunte out or not depending upon whether said tandem repeater relay is shunted out or not, and means controlled b said outgoing repeater relay for iving t e operator a characteristic signal indicative of the class of station.

"14. In a telephone system, means for extending a calling line to an operators' position, an automatic device at the exchange operated responsive to the completion of said connection, a device at the calling substation controlled by said first device, another device at the exchange controlled by said substation device to signal the operator, a repeater included in the connection between said line and the operators position, inductive connections in the talking circuit at said repeater, and means in said re eater for relaying .characteristic circuit con itions past said inductive connections to control said devices as set forth. I

15. In a telephone system, a part including restricted and unrestricte stations, an operators switchboard, atrunk comprising incoming and outgoing inducline tively coupled sections, the outgoing section terminating at the switchboard, means whereby a ,party at any station on the line may, set up a connection to section of the trunk, means at the point where the two sections are con led, controlled'over the outgoing section or testing the line to determine whether the connection was set up from a restricted or an unrestricted station, and means at the coupling point for transmitting the results of the test over the trunk section extending to the switchboard.

16. In a tale hone system, a restricted and an-unrestricte station, a trunk having inductively coupled incoming and outgoing sections, means for setting up a connection from either station to the incoming section, means controlled over the: outgoing section for determining whether the station connected-tothe incoming section is restricted or unrestricted, and means controlled over the incoming section for transmitting the result of the test over the outgoing section.

.17. In a telephone system, a restricted and an unrestricted station, a trunk having inductively coupled incoming and outgoing sections, means for setting up a connection from either station to the incoming section, an operators switchboard, means for setting up a connection from the outgoing section to the switchboard, means controlled over the outgoing 'section for determining whether the station connected to the incoming section is restricted or unrestricted, and means controlled over the incoming section for transmitting the result of the test over the outgoing section.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe m name this 12th day of November, A. D., I

JOHN E. OSTLINE.

the incoming. 

